Gardone Riviera

Gardone Riviera on the west side of Lake Garda is associated with the poet Gabriele D’Annunzio, who lived there after creating the ‘Vittoriale’, a rather eccentric museum that reflects how the greatness of the nation’s past is still conserved in the present. Gardone Riviera has a long history, but acquired greater importance during the middle ages when the fort was built by the rich Desenzano family. It was not until the unification of Italy that the continuing cultural conflicts and power struggles came to an end; however, the architecture of the noble villas and lakefront buildings provide a visible legacy. Gardone Riviera soon became an exclusive tourist location, thanks in part to the sharp intuition of the Viennese architect Ludwig Wimmer, who first saw Gardone’s potential as a gateway to the lake; an access point to a world where ancient villages and old traditional restaurants are reflected in the water, lighting up the night and electrifying the atmosphere of this enchanted location.